10 Things I learned from J.R.R. Tolkien

Happy Birthday J.R.R Tolkien! Ah, Tolkien! How I've loved you these many years. He'd have been 119 today, a ripe old age for a hobbit, a mere pup for an elf, worm food for a human.

Doug introduced me to LOTR in 8th grade, I think. I'm pretty sure it was the first high fantasy I ever read. Like many of you, I used to read the cycle once a year. A bit of trivia: By my calculations, Frodo's flight at the ford happens on Oct. 20, my birthday. :-)

Was he an influence on my writing? Absolutely.

Here are 10 things I learned from Tolkien. There are lots more, of course, but 10 is a good round number.

1. Create complex and fully realized worlds
2. Let my characters talk like real people, not stilted actors
3. Appreciate the little guy's ability to contribute. Heroes don't have to be nobles
4. Pay attention to weather and time of year
5. Know my back history of a world
6. Mix humor and horror, history and action, etc.
7. Keep magic within boundaries so that it doesn't replace the actions of the heroes
8. Include food!
9. You can go a long way on foot.
10. The journey is as important as the destination.